Page 134

Twelve

ACHERON'S HAND SETTLEDpossessively on the small of Pippi's back as they descended the stairs. Glancing at her, he saw the palest blush still coloring her cheeks.It was a good thing, he summarily reflected,that her household was an all-women's domain. That lovely flush of hers was an erotic sight, one bound to have any healthy man's imagination run rampant.

There was a noticeable buzz of frenetic energy that pulsed in the air when they rejoined the rest of Pippi's family. Everyone looked busy -too busy,Acheron thought, and this, for a man like him, spoke volumes.

Pippi, however, took just a few seconds longer to reach the same conclusions. Seeing the hallway empty of eavesdroppers had her breathing a sigh of relief, and she relaxed even more at the entirely normal scene that had greeted them below. Vik was cross-stitching in her corner, Rue and Mynt were chatting by the couch, and Astrid and the three old ladies were having tea at the dining table.

Clearing her throat, Pippi said with a determinedly bright smile, "We're back."

Oh, hello.

Hey.

We didn't notice you.

Is everything good now?

But this time, Pippi saw past the instant chorus of cheerful responses. It was all there, in the way they were quite unable to meet her gaze while sporting knowing little smiles...

Pippi's horrified gaze flew to Acheron. "You said they wouldn't hear—-"

"And we truly did not," Great-Aunt Agatha interrupted her from behind.

"Not a blessed thing for the past fifteen minutes," Great-Aunt Abigail emphasized.

"And that, my dear, said it for all for us," Great-Aunt Alice finished meaningfully.

Pippi let out a wail of embarrassment as she realized what the three were saying, and her color deepened when she heard Astrid and her sisters laugh.

Acheron was inclined to do the same, but the way Pippi suddenly turned to him with entreating blue eyes was too enchanting to resist. "There's nothing to be ashamed of,mikrí mou,"he said soothingly. "Pleasuring you is one of my responsibilities as your boyfriend—-" A chorus of oohs had Pippi looking like she was about to cry and turn into a tomato all at the same time, and Acheron's lips swiftly pressed together to contain his smile.

Rescuing damsels in distress, as opposed to wolfing them down, was an idea that he had always considered unappealing. But with Pippi, he found himself taking to it like a duck to water, and when she turned to him to hide her face against his chest, Acheron felt like he had just been knighted for the Round Table.

It did not make any fucking sense for him to feel this way, but because having Pippi seek comfort in his arms felt too damn good, Acheron decided it was best not to examine such things too closely.

He would cross that bridge when he had to, and not a fucking second too soon.

Another fifteen minutes had passed before Acheron finished saying his goodbyes to Pippi's family, and she walked him to the door. Even now, her body was still tingling in the aftermath of her first orgasm, and it was a constant struggle to keep a blush off her cheeks. Questions plagued her mind, and she had no answer to a single one of them. It was a frightening thought, but what scared her even more was how little she cared.

As if sensing her mood, Acheron tipped her chin up the moment they were out of the house, his handsome face grave as she reluctantly lifted her gaze to his.

"As your boyfriend..."

She couldn't help smiling, thinking that he was getting a little too fond of those words.

"It's my job to keep you from worrying." He paused. "But I can't do that if you won't tell me what's wrong."

"It's nothing."